Tiny Texas town cans police force that charged $1M in tickets
www.mysanantonio.com
The Coffee City Council terminated its police chief and deactivated its police department after realizing there was one officer for every five residents.

Archived page, if you’re paywalled or region-blocked

… Coffee City, a town in East Texas with a population of 250, had 50 officers heavily patrolling city streets and issuing millions of dollars in traffic tickets, according to a KHOU 11 investigative report.

“There’s not much to Coffee City, Texas,” KHOU 11 reporter Jeremy Rogalski wrote last month. “Two liquor stores, a couple of dollar stores, a pizza joint, and a motel. But this town, which is three hours north of Houston, has quite a reputation among those who drive through.” …

  • Doug Holland@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    63·
    1 year ago

    Thanks for the context, sincerely. I had pictured only a speed trap, not a drunk-driving trap. I am confident, however, that if there are tickets to be written, county and/or state cops will be there.

    • Nahvi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      1 year ago

      Sure thing. Not like there aren’t plenty of small towns in Texas that have a history of speed traps.

      I might even be underestimating the amount of speeding tickets that get written in the area, but I was more than a little surprised not to see Tyler or DWIs mentioned.

      I have some family in the area. I will have to try and remember to ask them if they have heard anything about it next time I talk to them.